may be complying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be complying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the possibility that someone or something is adhering to rules, regulations, or standards. Example: "The company may be complying with the new environmental regulations, but we need to conduct an audit to confirm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Gun-control advocates say, however, that while the school district may be complying with state gun laws, it appears to be violating the education statute.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Westchester's Office for the Disabled regularly dispatches staff members to investigate businesses that may not be complying with the A.D.A.

The New York Times

In the letter, Mr. Boustany, who is chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on oversight, wrote that panel members were concerned that "tax exempt organizations may not be complying with the letter or the spirit of the tax-exempt regime, yet continue to enjoy the benefits of tax exemption".

The New York Times

Third, patients may not be complying with treatment regimens, including diet and exercise recommendations.

Diabetes Care

Despite the recommendations to continue the regime of healthy food and physical activity (PA) postpartum for women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the scientific evidence reveals that these recommendations may not be complied to.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

"Those that filed suspicious activity reports may have been complying with their regulatory obligations under the law, but at the same time they went ahead and forwarded transfers of tens of millions of dollars about which they already had suspicions.

The New York Times

They did say, however, that "the practice of strip searches is inherently invasive of privacy," while noting "videotaping in these circumstances may serve to ensure that police are complying with their responsibilities".

Vice

Additionally, it may be difficult to determine whether nonprofit agencies that run group homes are complying.

The New York Times

So we are complying.

The New York Times

"We are complying with everything".

The New York Times

The authors point out, however, that the cars may have been contaminated by smoke that entered the car from outside and that smoking bans may not have been complied with 100% of the time.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may be complying" when you want to express a degree of uncertainty about whether someone or something is following a rule or regulation. For example, "The company may be complying with the new regulations, but further investigation is needed."

Common error

Avoid using "may be complying" when you have definitive proof of compliance. "Is complying" should be used when there is no doubt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be complying" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a possibility or uncertainty regarding adherence to a rule, regulation, or standard. Ludwig AI confirms its use in expressing potential compliance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may be complying" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express the possibility of adherence to rules or regulations. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable expression. While suitable for various contexts, it is most frequently found in news, media and scientific domains. Remember to use it when you want to express uncertainty, and opt for "is complying" when you have definitive proof. Alternatives such as "might be adhering" or "could be following" can offer subtle variations in tone. Avoid confusing "may be complying" with stronger assertions when the level of uncertainty does not warrant a conclusive statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be adhering

Changes "may" to "might" and "complying" to "adhering", both expressing a similar level of possibility and action but with slightly different word choice.

could be following

Substitutes "may" with "could" and "complying" with "following", maintaining the sense of possibility but with a focus on the act of adherence.

could be abiding by

Replaces "may" with "could" and "complying" with "abiding by", emphasizing adherence to a set of rules or laws.

might be observing

Replaces "complying" with "observing" which suggests a focus on watching or noticing the law.

may be adhering to the regulations

The phrase is more specific, emphasizing adherence to a set of rules or guidelines.

might be in accordance with

Emphasizes that there is an agreement.

may be observing the guidelines

Replaces "complying" with "observing" and specifies that there are guidelines.

could be acting in accordance with

Highlights actions.

might be meeting the requirements

The phrase is more specific, focusing on satisfying established requirements or criteria.

could be satisfying the standards

The phrase is more specific, focusing on satisfying established standards or benchmarks.

FAQs

How can I use "may be complying" in a sentence?

You can use "may be complying" to express a possibility that someone or something is following rules or regulations, such as: "The organization "may be complying" with the new data protection laws, but we need to verify their practices".

What's the difference between "may be complying" and "is complying"?

"May be complying" indicates uncertainty or a possibility, while "is complying" indicates certainty. Use "is complying" when you have confirmation of adherence, and "may be complying" when you suspect but have not confirmed adherence.

What are some alternatives to "may be complying"?

You can use alternatives like "might be adhering", "could be following", or "might be observing" to express similar uncertainty about compliance.

Is "may be complying" formal or informal language?

"May be complying" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the communication, rather than the phrase itself.